Career Development & Lead

About the Role

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) is seeking a Career Development & Internship Lead. This full-time position provides career counseling, professional development, and internship support to KAUST students, guiding them in identifying and pursuing career pathways aligned with their skills, interests, academic backgrounds, and professional goals. The role involves direct, student-centered career advising across KAUST's graduate and academic programs, preparing students for employment and further professional opportunities.

Key Responsibilities

The Career Development & Internship Lead will play a central role in supporting students' professional journeys and expanding internship opportunities. This includes working under the direction of the Head, Career Development & Industry Partnerships, engaging with employers, and facilitating student-employer connections.

• Provide individualized career counseling and advising to students, helping them identify career interests, goals, strengths, and potential pathways.
• Conduct one-on-one sessions covering career exploration, job search strategies, CV/resume development, cover letters, interviewing, networking, professional branding, and employment preparation.
• Help students translate academic, research, technical, and transferable skills into competencies valued by employers.
• Support students in developing individualized career plans and identifying professional development, networking, internship, and employment opportunities.
• Advise students on career pathways across industry, academia, entrepreneurship, government, and other professional sectors.
• Provide targeted career support for internships, job searches, interviews, career fairs, and employer engagement activities.
• Develop resources and tools to assist students in navigating career exploration and employment processes independently.
• Maintain records of student advising activity and utilize feedback to enhance career services.

Internship Program Development

A significant aspect of this role involves the development and expansion of high-quality internship opportunities for KAUST students, both in Saudi Arabia and internationally. This requires proactive engagement with external organizations and close coordination with academic divisions.

• Identify potential internship hosts through employer outreach, professional networks, and alumni connections.
• Develop and maintain a working database of internship opportunities and employer contacts.
• Engage with prospective internship hosts to understand their talent needs, requirements, and timelines.
• Match students with relevant internship opportunities based on their academic background, skills, and career interests.
• Coordinate with faculty and academic divisions to ensure internships align with students' academic and professional development.
• Support students throughout the internship process, from opportunity identification and application to placement and completion.
• Help establish and maintain processes for documenting internship placements, student participation, employer feedback, and outcomes.
• Monitor the quality and effectiveness of internship experiences and identify areas for improvement.
• Build relationships with successful internship hosts to encourage repeat placements and expanded opportunities.

Collaboration and Support

The Career Development & Internship Lead will work collaboratively with various internal and external stakeholders to ensure students receive comprehensive career support and access to meaningful experiential learning opportunities. This includes close interaction with academic divisions, faculty, student services, alumni, and graduate employment colleagues.

Work Type

This is a full-time position within King Abdullah University of Science and Technology.